Pharmacy[ articles | activities | features | links ] Saturday, January 17, 2004 Drug costs continue to plague seniorsBy MARY L. SCHROPP NEW SMYRNA BEACH — Whether or not new legislation adding a prescription drug benefit to Medicare, signed into law by President Bush last month, will help the majority of the nation’s seniors with their drug costs still is an open question. “The new Medicare drug bill will be rolled in over the next three years and many of its provisions are still open to interpretation,” said Betty Davis, community liaison director for the Volusia County Council on Aging. Among the specific issues that Davis noted as unresolved are securing prescriptions that are not part of the government’s list of preferred drugs and the income test that will affect some benefits. Until more of these questions have been ironed out, Davis said the council will not analyze how the new law might affect area seniors. The Medicare bill provides prescription drug benefits beginning in 2006 at an annual premium of about $35 per month. After a $250 deductible, Medicare will cover 75 percent of drug costs up to a total of $2,250. After that, there is no coverage until the annual cost of medicine hits $5,100. Then the insurance would pick up 95 percent of the tab. To gain the benefit, elders would have to enroll in a prescription drug plan or join a private health insurance plan that offered drug coverage. The premium, deductible and gap in coverage would be waived for elders with the lowest incomes. However, for the majority of Medicare recipients, there would be no way out of footing the bill for prescriptions greater than the $2,250 threshold. The new law would ban the use of Medigap insurance for drugs. Later this year, Medicare beneficiaries will be able to buy a prescription card that offers discounts of up to 15 percent from participating pharmacies. But one of the most attractive avenues opened recently for seniors with high drug costs is cut-off. There is no coverage for pharmaceuticals imported from Canada and the law prohibits government agencies from negotiating with Canadian pharmacies. A Canadian connection has netted significant savings for some seniors across the country, especially those who need long-term supplies of maintenance medications. The Canadian government negotiates lower prices with United States pharmaceutical companies while the U.S. allows manufacturers to set their own prices. Individuals have skirted laws against importing U.S. drugs back from Canada by using family connections, online services and local businesses, such as Discount Drugs of Canada in Ormond Beach. Some municipalities and states, like Springfield and Boston in Massachusetts and the state of New Hampshire, have announced plans to import drugs for employees through Canada. Florida’s Board of Pharmacy, however, frowns on importing from Canada and advocates using only state-licensed pharmacies to secure medications. Beginning this month, Florida activated a one-stop prescription assistance program to help eligible people older than 60 take advantage of existing programs that can reduce or eliminate drugs costs. The Sunshine for Seniors Program trained volunteer counselors to pull together information on discounts offered by drug manufacturers and pharmacies. The Senior Dividend Card offered by Walgreen’s pharmacy, for example, gives anyone 55 or older, who does not participate in a government prescription program, a credit of 10 percent on any prescription that can be used for a future prescription or for other merchandise in the store. The program, launched in 2002, has been popular, according to Michael Polzin, spokesman for the Deerfield, Ill., company. “I think people are happy with the discounts,” he said. To learn about other programs, call the Sunshine for Seniors program, (800) 963-5337 and ask for a counselor or check the Web site, http://elderaffairs.state.fl.us/doea/english/shine.html.
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